Cars Commerce

AUCTIONS ARE KILLING YOUR GROSS If you’re still blowing $30K a month chasing used cars at auction, this episode will straight up slap you back to reality. 💥 🔥 Auction fees. 🔥 Transport costs. 🔥 44-day turn times. 🔥 ZERO control. 🔥 And your gross? Gone by Day 32. 👀 The best inventory isn’t at Manheim or on OVE... It’s under your damn nose. 💡 Brian Kramer from Cars Commerce breaks down: ✅ The real cost of auction addiction ✅ The new KPIs that actually protect your front + back gross ✅ How to build an acquisition culture that DOMINATES You’re not losing because of market conditions. You’re losing because you refuse to fix what’s broken. 💰 This is real talk for dealers who are ready to take control. #FollowTheMoney #AutoIndustry #CarSalesTips #UsedCarStrategy #RetailAuto #Strong30Studios #BrianKramer #CarsCommerce #ServiceLaneAcquisition #DealerTalk #CloseDeals #ControlYourMargin

🎉 That’s a wrap on Used Carpalooza 2025! A huge thank-you to the 60+ dealer teams who joined us, our partner Lotpop, Inc., and to our amazing panelists for a high-energy, solution-first dialogue on the future of used-car retail. Highlights from the day: Jasen Rice on building profitable buy centers and streamlining acquisition strategies David Spisak on managing reconditioning costs and creating trusted dealer-to-dealer networks Alex Cortese and Benjamin Ripstein sharing real-world insights on appraisals and retail optimization Brian Kramer on leveraging service drive acquisition for higher profitability Chris Fell and the AccuTrade Trade Desk team revealing end-user strategies that maximize value and minimize risk This wasn’t just another event: it was a true partnership in motion. Whether the topic was leveraging AI, streamlining online-to-in-store friction points, or building smarter wholesaling networks — it was an open discussion between our panelists and our guests. Missed a session? Let’s connect. And to everyone who joined: your energy and insights make tomorrow’s used‑car landscape brighter. Onward together! 💡 https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/exy5curN Timothy Swick, Howard Horowitz, Raul Tomsa, Alex Lawrence, PhD, Jarrod Kilway, Burt Davidson, Frank Knox, George O'Connor, Joel Furno, Lee Brown, Joe Neiman, Joe Oliveri, Mark Aguanno, Matthew Van Belle

Inflatable Tube Man puts a lot of ad spend (and sweat!) into his commercials — but are actual car shoppers even seeing them? 😰 💸 Watch how to maximize every penny by only putting your message in front of real local car shoppers who are still deciding what and where to buy. Turn on In-Market Video ✅: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gvh3XM8J

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: 88% of Cars.com shoppers haven’t picked a dealership when they start searching. That means the first impression your team makes is 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦. And you’re not going to win today’s shoppers with last season’s plays. It’s time to run a new offense. The 𝟱-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 breaks down how to: 🏆 Deliver trust-building, review-worthy experiences 🏟️ Turn your website into a homefield advantage ✨ Showcase your stars on the biggest stage Ready to build your starting lineup? 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eDGgRErU

Inventory shifts. Incentive cuts. A ticking clock on EV tax credits. The first half of 2025 tells a bigger story — here’s what dealers need to know. Our latest Industry Insights report breaks down the trends shaping the new and used car markets, consumer demand, and digital engagement. We’ve got the data to help you move smarter. In our H1 Market Snapshot: 🔍 Entry-level new cars under $30K are drying up — now just 13.6% of inventory ⚡ EV tax credits are ending soon — and that’s already reshaping demand 🚗 Used cars between $20K–$30K are flying off lots Get the full report: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eHppQRmy

It doesn’t take long for rookie salespeople to become local stars when they're showcased on Cars.com. Give your team a platform on the #1 most recognized marketplace to meet new customers, create loyal fans, and become stars in your community from rave reviews. All you have to do is let them shine in front of our record-breaking audience of local shoppers. Get in the game: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/e9Y8HGJq

Make sure to Register and RSVP for Used Carpalooza 4, on July 22nd from 9am CT to 5pm CT at Cars Commerce HQ in Chicago, IL. This year’s event will consist of less speakers, and more dealers. The dealers attending will be sharing best practices that are currently producing exceptional results in 2025. We will have panels of dealers representing how to disrupt the status quo when it comes to: • Acquiring Vehicle from the Service Drive • Direct from Consumer Used Vehicle Buying Centers • Mastering Sight-Unseen Appraisals • Identifying the Best End User for Each Used Vehicle We will also have a panel with our AccuTrade Trade Desk Analysts. The ones that generate the most accurate used car appraisal values on Earth. 🌎 We will also have Alex Cortese aka “MovingMerch” on Instagram https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eX_hP7Ci and TikTok https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eTwzac9N sharing best practices around acquiring and retailing used vehicles on social media. The event will be moderated by Jasen Rice and David Spisak, so there will not be a dull moment at this event. Prepare for a full-throttle, action packed event; with simple and ACTIONABLE insights that will help you acquire and sell more vehicles immediately after the event. There is no charge to attend the event, but availablity is filling up quickly. So RSVP as soon as possible, before we hit capacity. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ezedc93E https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ezedc93E

Mercedes-Benz of Paramus set a goal to appraise at least 50% of vehicles entering their service drive — and walked away with 10–12 extra acquisitions each month. With AccuTrade’s real-time insights and transparent valuations, they turned routine visits into revenue.🎥 See how they did it: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/e8AsTi7f

Appraisals used to interrupt the flow—now Alex Cortese’s team is acquiring cars straight from the service drive without missing a beat. Take the guesswork out of the equation with AccuTrade. 📽️ Watch how

🚨 If you missed this one the first time, it’s worth a look: smarter sourcing in action at Germain Toyota.